PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Todd Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Dochenk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Valentine
vs
Dochenk

205 cm
20
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Todd Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josh Dochenk!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dochenk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dochenk wants it to stay on the feet.
Valentine is looking to clinch but Dochenk is avoiding it.
Dochenk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dochenk darts in looking for a takedown but Valentine gets double underhooks and turns Dochenk into the cage.

Valentine manages to pull guard.
Valentine has a closed guard, preventing Dochenk from standing up.
Valentine is pulling down on Dochenk's head to control his posture.
Dochenk wants to stand and escape but instead Valentine has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Dochenk can't keep his opponent in guard - Valentine advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Valentine seems to be working for a kimura but Dochenk defends the submission attempt.
Valentine performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valentine stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Valentine walks forward, straight into a front kick from Dochenk.
Dochenk delivers a nice body kick.
Valentine wants to clinch.
Dochenk shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valentine pinned against the cage. Valentine gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Todd Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Dochenk.

Dochenk instigates a clinch.

Dochenk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dochenk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dochenk wants it to stay on the feet.
Valentine shoots and misses
and Dochenk counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dochenk closes the distance and clinches.

Dochenk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valentine shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dochenk as he jumps to the side.
Valentine really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dochenk tries to clinch but Valentine is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Dochenk. No joy for Valentine on that attempt.
Valentine is breathing heavily.
Valentine stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Valentine wants it to stay on the feet.
Josh Dochenk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dochenk pushes Valentine up against the cage in a clinch.
Valentine is looking to break free of the clinch but Dochenk has double underhooks.
Dochenk fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valentine avoiding damage.

Dochenk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dochenk moves into range and clinches up with Valentine.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Todd Valentine will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Valentine moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Valentine blocks the body kick.
A shot to the liver by Valentine. Beautiful body shot.
Valentine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dochenk is looking to clinch.
Dochenk misses with a kick to the body.

Valentine closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Dochenk breaks from the clinch.
Dochenk wants to clinch
and Valentine counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dochenk moves in looking to clinch but Valentine pushes him off.
Dochenk throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Dochenk throws a nice looking combination but Valentine bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Valentine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dochenk's waist but Dochenk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Valentine off to one side.
Dochenk throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Valentine.
Dochenk is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine tries to clinch but Dochenk is having none of it.
Dochenk throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Valentine changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dochenk tries to avoid it but Valentine manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dochenk to the ground. Dochenk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dochenk throws a nice looking combination but Valentine bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dochenk looks to clinch

and Valentine counters by moving into the clinch.

Dochenk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Valentine tries for a takedown but Dochenk circles away easily
and Dochenk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Todd Valentine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dochenk misses with a takedown attempt - Valentine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Valentine closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Valentine lands in his opponent's guard.
Valentine passes Dochenk's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine works his foot free and advances to mount.
Dochenk really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valentine. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Valentine unloads with some shots from mount but Dochenk bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valentine controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine lands a couple of good shots and Dochenk has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Valentine misses with a punch to the head.
Dochenk controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valentine somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Valentine dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Valentine shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dochenk as he avoids it easily.
Valentine keeps the fight on the outside.
Valentine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dochenk wants to clinch up but Valentine keeps it at a distance.

Dochenk closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Valentine pulls guard successfully.
Dochenk has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Valentine is proving hard to escape from.
Valentine is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Valentine seems to be looking for submissions.
Dochenk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valentine throwing shots but Dochenk is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dochenk flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Valentine is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Valentine is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Todd Valentine has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Dochenk shoots in looking for a takedown but Valentine manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dochenk's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Dochenk clinches.
Valentine jumps guard but Dochenk stands there with Valentine around his waist. Valentine gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Valentine wants to take the fight to the mat but Dochenk manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Todd Valentine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentine is trying to drag Dochenk to the mat but Dochenk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Dochenk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Valentine tries to clinch up but Dochenk circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dochenk tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Valentine manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dochenk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Valentine tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dochenk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Valentine somewhat.
Dochenk looks to land a combination but Valentine avoids it well.
Dochenk connects with a good right hand that stumbles Valentine. Valentine circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Dochenk fails to land with a series of punches.
Dochenk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Valentine.
Valentine tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dochenk swivels and escapes.
Josh Dochenk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Todd Valentine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dochenk throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Todd Valentine.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Valentine, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Todd Valentine!